J-News Mini Roundup: Toyota Brake Recall – Japanese Reactions to the Current Crisis
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J-News Mini-Roundup is a recurring feature written by Friend Of JET, Jon Hills, who maintains the blog for Hills Learning (www.hillslearning.com). Hills Learning is a NY-based language learning services company offering customized and personal Japanese and Chinese language learning options.
It all started on a usual family outing in California. It was there that a highway patrolman and his family were driving on the highway, when they realized the accelerator petal was stuck to the floor. After careening through the highway and eventually crashing though a guard rail, the car rolled over a few times and burst into flames.
Toyota has gotten lots of press lately for their recall of cars across America and the so called stuck accelerator problem. Americans have reacted with shock as their top quality car maker has had to recall some of the highest selling models on the American market. But how have the Japanese reacted to this?
Each Japanese newspaper today had a different take on the current crisis at Toyota, its affects on America and the overall financial health of the company.
Click here for the rest of the article, including other Japanese language and culture articles
Roland Kelts column in Daily Yomiuri: Is this the year Japan jumps the shark?
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Here’s the latest SOFT POWER/HARD TRUTHS column in the Daily Yomiuri by Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, this one whether Japan, like Fonzie in the epic sitcom Happy Days, has “jumped the shark.”
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20100122TDY11003.htm
Also, fyi, Roland is now down in Miami for the Super Bowl (his sister works for the NFL!) hanging out with his pal Pete Townsend of The Who which will be providing the halftime entertainment. Here’s the post from Roland’s blog: http://japanamerica.blogspot.com/2010/02/super-bowl-in-south-beach.html
Job: Teach English in Taiwan
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The International Institute, Graduate School is currently accepting applications from certified teachers who are interested in teaching English in Taiwan from August 2010 to July 2011. This program is sponsored by the Ministry of Education in Taiwan.
Taiwan Teacher Exchange Program Benefits:
– monthly salary, health, dental, and labor insurance
– round trip airfare to Taiwan
– dormitory accommodations or a housing allowance
– Chinese language learning opportunities
Deadline for application: March 15, 2010.
For more information on the program, please follow this link to our website: here.
Colin Fink
Program Technician
International Institute
Graduate School
600 Maryland Avenue, SW Suite 320
Washington, DC 20024-2520
Phone: 202-314-3455
Fax: 202-479-6806
E-mail: Colin.Fink@graduate school.edu
WIT Life #74: Japan Society Food Forum
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WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Last night I went to an event at Japan Society entitled “Wasabi on a Hot Dog?” which discussed the incorporation of Japanese ingredients and cooking styles into non-Japanese food. The speakers were Michael Anthony, executive chef of Gramercy Tavern, and Craig Koketsu, Executive Chef at Park Avenue Autumn/Winter, and the discussion was moderated by NYT Dining section reporter Julia Moskin. They both spoke of the importance of seasonality as a Japanese concept that they have introduced, which is said to be revolutionary but really is at the root of all cooking. It was interesting to hear about Anthony’s time training with a female chef at a French bistro in Tokyo, and of Koketsu growing up in California as a third-generation Japanese-American and how this has affected his work.
However, by far the greatest contribution of the evening was the off the cuff remarks Read More
Urgent short-term gig: Japanese Speakers Wanted For Translation Work (Los Angeles)
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Language Weaver is seeking Japanese-English bilinguals to work on a short job this Wednesday or Thursday. They must be able to read both Japanese and English, and be fluent native or near-native English speakers. The job will take about 4 hours, working through an online portal on a flexible schedule, with training by phone. They will work as independent consultants, not employees. Since the total pay is under the federal limit, it will not be reported to the IRS.
The task is to skim 200 sentences that were translated from Japanese into English by a computer, and rate the quality of the translation on a 5-point scale. The sentences are on general news topics that don’t require any special vocabulary. The consultant can be an undergraduate, graduate, senior citizen, someone’s spouse, or whatever — so long as they can read both Japanese and English fluently, and aren’t tied up with midterms this week.
The pay for the job will be $90 a person. People who are interested in the job should contact Michael Potts at 310-437-7300 extension 244, or mpotts@languageweaver.com. He is available both days and evenings.
JETAA Chapter Beat 2.3.10
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Freelance writer/editor Jonathan Trace (Fukuoka-ken, 2005-08) takes us on a walk around the JET Alumni community for another edition of JETAA Chapter Beat.
- Career Workshop – *Date Change* The NEJETAA Career Workshop has been changed to the first week of March. This year’s theme is, “Marketing Yourself in a Tough Economy,” so come on out and get a leg up on that new career. Location and times to be announced. Stay tuned for further details.
- Super Bowl Hike – Sunday, February 7th, 10:00 at the Greek Theatre. Get a little fresh air and exercise before the game, and join JETAASC for a hike from the Greek Theatre to the Griffith Observatory.
- Happy Hour Show & Tell plus Karaoke – Wednesday, February 10th, 5:30 at Tajima 2. Bring 1-3 of your souvenirs from your time on JET and share them with the group. The quirkier and rarer the better.
- 2010 Member’s Retreat – Friday, February 19th through Sunday the 21st on Big Bear Mountain. Get away and hit the slopes for a weekend retreat with JETAASC.
- Nihongo Dake Dinner – Saturday, February 27th, 6:00 in San Gabriel. Dust off those rusty Japanese skills and come out for a night of food, friends and Japanese conversation.
- San Francisco Nomikai and Language Exchange – Thursday, February 4th, 6:00 at Pizza Orgasmica. GEOS is co-hosting this “all-you-can-eat” happy hour event.
- Joshikai San Francisco – Thursday, February 11th, 6:00 at Owl Tree. Joshikai is a gathering for Japanese women and womene with an interest in Japan to make friends and share stories. Author Mieko Mochizuki Swartz of “Shortchanged: A Japanese Women’s Guide to International Romance” will be giving a short talk, followed by an informal networking activity.
- Tampa Subchapter Tsudoi – Friday, February 5th, 7:00 at Panera Bread in the Brandon Towncenter Mall. The Tampa Subchapter will be hosting their monthly Tsudoi, an informal time for anyone interested in Japanese and Japanese culture.
What happened at your chapter’s event? If you attend(ed) any of these exciting events, JetWit would love to hear about them. Just contact Jonathan Trace with any info, stories or comments.
Benjamin Davis (ALT Chiba-ken, 2006-07, CIR/PA Chiba Kencho, 2007-09) is a freelance writer/researcher, translator, renaissance man and jack-of-all-trades based in rural Chiba-ken. He can be contacted at davis.benjamin.j@gmail.com and is always on the lookout for new and interesting projects.
“Setsubun, Bean-tossing, and the Old Japanese Calendar”
This February 3rd, when he gets home from work, my friend Mr. Watanabe will be chased out of his own house, by his own children, who will shout at him and throw dried beans in his face.
No, this is not some clever new trick on the children’s part to get back at him for enforcing their bedtimes. On the contrary, it will be something he planned in concert with them days earlier. He himself will be wearing a demon mask, his wife will be encouraging the children on in the background, and the shouts in question will be repeated cries of “Demons out, fortune in!”
You see, this bean-throwing and shouting is actually an ancient Japanese tradition called “Setsubun” (節分). It is a ritual whose objective is to chase out the malevolent spirits that may have built up like dust bunnies in the dark corners of the house over the year and invite in good fortune for the coming year.
To make the experience more symbolically tangible, a male member of the house may dress up as Read More
Jobs: English Teacher at Ez Communications (Nagano)
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Via naganojet yahoo group:
Ez Communications, one of the few foreign-owned and operated schools in Matsumoto, is looking for a full-time teacher starting on the first of April. The position available focuses mainly on pre-school kids and uses a storybook curriculum. Some junior high school and adult classes are offered as well.
Ez Communications offers an initial salary of 250,000 yen, assistance in finding a place to life, and visa sponsorship. They are looking (ideally) for a teacher who already lives in Japan, has a driver’s license, and enjoys teaching children.
Interested parties should send their resume and contact information to trevorralph@ezcomm.biz. Successful candidates will be contacted.
Jobs: Openings for English Teachers (Nagasaki)
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Via jet-nagasaki yahoo group:
The following teaching positions are available in Sasebo, Nagasaki starting in April:
Full-time:
*ELT Position: Kyubun High School. (Monday – Friday)
Part-time:
*Nagasaki Junior College: English Conversation Teacher. (Mon-Fri 9-10:30)
*Kyubun Yochien: Teaching English to pre-school aged children. (3 hours a week)
Interested applicants should contact Luc Roberge at Nagasaki Junior College:
roberge@njc.ac.jp
0956-47-5566
Job: Japan Travel Consultant (Bristol, UK)
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Via iwateminions yahoo group:
InsideJapan Tours, an independent travel specialist based in the UK, is currently recruiting for a new travel consultant. This company has a number of ex-JETs among their staff, and they are looking to fill a vacant position in April. The position available is for a Full Time Japan Travel Consultant based at the UK Office in Bristol. InsideJapan Tours is looking for someone who has experience living and working in Japan and wants to share their passion for the country with others.
Application deadline is the 12th of February, no work visa sponsorship available. Details at:
http://www.insidejapantours.com/jobs/
WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.
Nice to be back in chilly New York, but a bit of an adjustment after the final stop on my business trip last week being balmy LA. I always love going to this southern California destination for the chance to visit Little Tokyo! Besides great cultural institutions such as the Japanese American National Museum and the Geffen MOCA, it has delicious mochi flavors that I am yet to find here in the city. My first two stops when in town are always the sweet shops carrying these creations, Mikawaya in the Japanese village and Fugetsu-do on the main drag.
The more expansive Mikawaya carries a greater selection of mochi, including Read More
Many JETs and JET alumni find themselves at a crossroads regarding their careers and career options. Nicole D. Mignone (Akita-ken, 1991-1993), a certified life coach, will be periodically posting articles for the benefit of the JET Community. You can read more of her life-related articles at her blog thealchemyofbalance.blogspot.com. She also offers individual life and business coaching. For more information, email Nicole at drmuse@jetwit.com.
Dear Dr. Muse:
I feel so stuck and frustrated in my current job, but I can’t quit and don’t know what else I want to do. What if I feel the same in my next job and I will never be happy? –N.H., Long Island, NY
Dear N.H.:
This common issue resonates with many people who hire a life coach. Over the next few columns, I will break down some of the layers of this question and give you some tools to determine what changes you can make to feel less “stuck” in your life.
Step One: Gathering Information.
In any construction project you first have a plan, and it should be no different when it comes to building a life you want, including the profession you want. So, to begin, you need to assess your starting point and the resources at hand. Often a feeling of dissatisfaction at work is actually a distraction from dissatisfaction in other areas of life, so it is important to evaluate your life as a whole. Moreover, before you embark on a journey that involves change, implement measures to ensure your health and wellbeing remain balanced.
For this first week, take some time to assess where you are right now. First, obtain a blank notebook or journal to record your thoughts, ideas, and progress. On that first page, write your full name and then write out your commitment to make any changes necessary to create the life you want. Now, agree to have fun with the exercises and start with the Rating System.
The Rating System
First, rate each of the following, as it pertains to your life at this moment, on a scale of zero [absolutely stinks] to ten [could not get any better]:
- fitness/health
- money
- career
- friends/family
- fun/recreation
- personal growth/spiritual development
- physical environment/home
- romance/significant other
Next, on the other sheets of paper, put each label from above at the top of a page. Take time to look at each section and write a description of what a perfect ten would look like. Describe your perfect TEN in an uninhibited, entitled, and passionate way. In other words, you may not write what you think you can have, you must write what you really WANT.
Stay tuned for the next Dr. Muse post where I’ll expand on this exercise.
JETAA Technology Regional Conference – Jan 29-31 (Portland, OR)
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This is going on this weekend! Follow updates on the official website and also via Twitter: http://twitter.com/jetaarc
FYI, JETAA Portland will be hosting a very unique and cool JET Alumni Conference at the end of January that is intended to focus specifically on technology issues and challenges facing JET alumni chapters.
A blog/website has been set up for the JETAA Technology Regional Conference at http://regionalconference.jetaaportland.com if you’d like to see what’s going on and perhaps even find ways to contribute.
Contact US Chapter Representative Ryan Hart with any questions at us1.jetaausa [at] yahoo.com.
Brainstorm Crew: Request for article writers from JQ Editor Justin Tedaldi
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The latest issue of JQ (JETAA NY Quarterly) Magazine has hit the stands, and now Editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2000-01) working on the next issue and seeking writers. Read on for more info. (It also actually stands on its own as a great list of JET-relevant things and interesting JET alums.)
Hi, Brainstorm Crew!
Hope everyone’s enjoying the start of the new year (a link to JQ’s current issue is here in case you haven’t seen it yet, thanks always for your contributions and ideas and feel to link the new issue to your own sites/blogs to promote us). Below are the story ideas needing takers for our March 2010 issue and beyond. De wa…
Deadlines are as follows:
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5: Registering a story assignment with me at magazine@jetaany.org, or pitching an idea of your own for approval. All suggestions are welcome. We’ve been picking up more new writers with each issue, and I encourage all first-timers whether you consider yourself a seasoned writer or not. (Just mind the deadlines!)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14: Deadline for submitting a final draft of your story. Extensions will be granted on a case-by-case basis, less so for new writers.
I would also greatly appreciate added assistance with the following:
AD SALES CALLS: More sales means more JETAANY-sponsored events. It takes under two minutes to get an answer in most cases. Write for more info.
COPY EDITING/PROOFREADING: For those of you who like reading this thing cover to cover. Multiple times.
YOUR OWN STORY IDEAS: Anything’s fair game! Some of our most interesting material comes from suggestions from our more dedicated readers.
Now the fun stuff. Below are the story ideas. Thanks for reading and providing your support, and e-mail at magazine@jetaany.org with any other questions/ideas.
**************************************
CONSULATE GENERAL JAPAN CARAVAN
This is a decade-plus program run by New York’s Consulate General of Japan that sends consulate staff (American and Japanese) to New York high schools and junior high schools to introduce students to Japanese culture. Earlier this month, I participated as a volunteer and enjoyed taking part in a Q&A with a very enthusiastic anime/manga club and faculty. The purpose of this article will be to increase awareness of the program so more JETAA members can get involved.
ASIA SOCIETY
Earlier this month NYC’s Asia Society held a concert called “Hogaku,” or Japanese folk instruments played with modern flair. We’ve never profiled Asia Society, so this would be a great time to find out more about how they select their Japanese attractions and exhibitions. www.asiasociety.org
TENRI CULTURAL INSTITUTE
Tenri Cultural Institute is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote the study of Japanese language and the appreciation of international art forms. Based in Greenwich Village, it also houses the Tenrikyo Church, which has its own interesting history. http://www.tenri.org/
Japan Nite 2010 at Bowery Ballroom
Annual concert featuring indie acts from Japan. This year’s edition will be held Sunday, 3/21 at Bowery Ballroom. I’m looking for a preview piece con the history of the festival with quotes from either members of one of the groups or the promoters. (Info for all acts at ticket homepage below.
Lineup: Red Bacteria Vacuum / Omodaka / JinnnyOops! / Okamato’s
http://www.boweryballroom.com/event/4053
Japan Society’s Spring 2010 Performing Arts Schedule
This season features kyogen, live theater and music. Am open to profiles/reviews of any of the following listed at the page below.
http://www.japansociety.org/performingarts
Exhibit: Kuniyoshi Monster Prints at Japan Society – PREVIEW OR REVIEW
Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters: Japanese Prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi from the Arthur R. Miller Collection, March 12-June 13, 2010, at Japan Society Gallery
Thrashing sea creatures, samurai warriors, and a giant, looming skeleton are among the distinguishing subjects of the brashest of Japan’s Ukiyo-e masters, Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), whose populist oeuvre is to be presented by Japan Society Gallery from March 12 to June 13, 2010.
Fresh from its spring 2009 showing at London’s Royal Academy of Arts, where it was the surprise smash hit of the season, Graphic Heroes, Magic Monsters: Japanese Prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi from the Arthur R. Miller Collection marks the first major exhibition of Kuniyoshi’s work in the United States in nearly 30 years. The exhibition has been organized by the Royal Academy in collaboration with Arthur R. Miller and The British Museum. The vast majority of the 150 color woodblock prints on display are from the Arthur R. Miller Collection, New York, generously loaned to Japan Society by the American Friends of the British Museum.
ISSHONI LONDON – JET Alum Vanessa Villalobos
London JET alum’s blog: events, news, review and interviews. I met her back in December and this would be a good Q&A piece for any JETs wanting to learn more about how our alumni groups operate overseas.
http://www.isshonilondon.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Isshoni-London/119415767689
http://twitter.com/IsshoniVanessa
JQ Magazine’s Winter 2010 “Food and Film” Issue Is Out Now!
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JQ Editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02) has worked hard to put out another fantastic issue of JETAA NY Quarterly Magazine (aka JQ). O-tsukare sama deshita, Justin-san!
Start the decade off right!JAN/FEB 2010 ISSUE: Click image below for our homepage
Click here to SUBSCRIBE via PayPal
Editor: Justin Tedaldi – magazine@jetaany.org
JAN/FEB 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page 3……..Letter From the Editor / Letter From the Secretary
Page 4……..Nippon News Blotter / JetWit Baby
Page 5……..Peace Corps Calls Out to JETs by Marea Pariser
Page 6……..Gearing Up for Grad School by Aly Woolfrey
Page 6……..At the ISE Cultural Gallery by Michael Glumac
Page 7……..Harumi Kurihara: The JQ Interview by Yukari Sakamoto
Page 8……..Nihonjin in New York – Featuring Filmmaker Takayuki Tanaka by Stacy Smith
Page 9……..Lisa Katayama on 2-D Love, Japan Pop by Crystal Wong
Page 9……..The Legacy of Tokyo Story by David Kowalsky
Page 10……JETlog – Featuring John Ellis-Guardiola
Page 10……The Language(s) of Love: Wendy Nelson Tokunaga by Nichole Knight
Page 11…….Bridge Building with Filmmaker Aaron Woolfolk by Lyle Sylvander
Page 12……The Funny Page
